The Gita gives us the complete answer to this problem.
The first thing is to take up an activity that is in line with your swabhava, your innate temperament. If one does not know that, then one should study oneself, one’s interests, tendencies, natural qualities and capacities and try to see how they can be best put to use in the work you are doing.
Unfortunately, most of us take up work to earn a livelihood, build a career or make money. Such persons are not dissatisfied with the work as much as with the outcome they get, the results, so to say. As they are often thinking of the outcome, they quickly become dissatisfied. But as we all know, the outcome is the result of several forces, out of which the only thing in our hands is the work itself. Thinking about the outcome not only distracts but also takes away the focus from the work itself and deflects our energies. The first advice therefore is that of nishkama karma. It means to take joy in whatever you do but do not do anything for this or that return. In fact, doing the work well brings its own reward.
If you just do this one practice sincerely, you will feel freer in your work. Of course, if you turn it into the service of the Divine through an inner offering, then that is the best. For what greater joy can there be than the service of the Divine.
Affectionately,
Alok Da
